Khorlo Tours and Travel

Bumthang & Gangtey Tour Bumthang Cultural Tours & Treks Central Bhutan Tour

East-West Cultural Tour Festival Tours Druk Path Trek Laya-Gasa Trek

Lunana Snowman Trek Bird Watching Areas & Tour Customized Tour

Arrival at Paro International Airport. Then drive to Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan. The road leads through the Paro valley to the confluence of Paro and Thimphu rivers. Three different styles of chortens adorn the confluence. A short way beyond, on the left, is Tschogang Lhakhang, the temple of the hill of excellent horse. It is private temple, built in 15th century, as the result of visitation from Balaha, the excellent horse, a manifestation of Chenrezig, the compassionate Buddha. After the narrow, rock lined section of the road opens up as Thimphu approaches, Simtokha Dzong lays enroute. Simtokha means the place of profound tantric teaching', this dzong now houses a school for the study of the Dzongkha language. On arrival in Thimphu, check into the hotel.

Full day sightseeing of Thimphu valley: Memorial Chorten, National Library, Painting School, Traditional Medicine Institute, Tashichhodzong, and Choki Handicrafts & Emporium.Overnight Thimphu.

After breakfast proceed to Punakha. About 45 min from Thimphu, lies Dochula pass (3,100m), offering visitors their first glimpse of the eastern Himalayan range. A low lying sub tropical valley, Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 . Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal has played prominent role in civil and religious life of the Kingdom. Destroyed four times by fire and an earthquake in 1897, the Dzong has been now fully restored in its original splendour. Afternoon visit Wangdi-Dzong and sightseeing. Overnight in Punakha.

Early morning drive to Trongsa via Wangdue Phodrang across Pelela pass (alt. 3,300m), the traditional boundary between east and west. The pass is marked by a large prayer flags and the ground is covered with high altitude dwarf bamboo. Arrive Tongsa and check into the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Tongsa.

After breakfast walk by Tongsa Dzong, built by Shabdrung in 1647 and visit the Ta Dzong (watch tower), dedicated to Buddhist epic hero, King Gesar of Ling. Then drive to Bumthang, which is about 3 hours.( 29 kms) from Tongsa road and on the way the Yutong La pass (alt. 3,400 m). Further 13 km ahead, the road enters into a wide valley known as Chumey valley. On arrival in Bumthang, check into the hotel.

Bumthang valley is one of the most sacred in the Kingdom and innumerable legends surround the area. This is the place where Guru Rimpoche first visited in 7th century. Here place where the kings and the royal families are also cremated and the present royal family traces their ancestry back to the famous saint, Pemalingpa. Full day sight seeing include visit to Kurje Lhakhang (where the saint Padsambhava subdued a local demon and left his body imprint on a rock), Jampel lhakhang which was built in 7th century, then Jakar dzong (the fortress of white bird) built in 17th century by tenzin rabgay (the fourth desi), Tamshing lhakhang built in 1501 by terton pema lingpa (the founder of religious treasures). Then visit kunchosum lhakhang and “Meebertsho” (the flaming lake) in fact it is a gorge where the river runs through but the story says that pema lingpa discovered religious text from this lake. Also worth seeing is the traditional hospital, and the cheese factory. Overnight in Bumthang.

After breakfast proceed to Gantey/Phobjikha via Trongsa. The approach to Phobjikha valley is through a forest of Oak and Rhododendron. Phobjikha is one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan and chosen home of black necked cranes, which migrate from the central Asiatic Plateau to escape its harsh winters. In October and November you can see them.

After breakfast explore Phojikha valley and also visit to Gangtey Monastery, the only Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan and drive to Thimphu via Wangdue Phodrang. Overnight Thimphu.

On the way to Paro visit Simtokha Dzong, at Paro visit Kyichu Lhakhang, Ta-Dzong (National Museum), Rinpung Dzong and Paro's market. Overnight Paro. If you are on a Sunday in Paro you can visit the weekly market .

In the morning visit Drukgyel Dzong and take full day excursion to hike to the Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery. Overnight Paro.